2009

Posted by Bob on August 13, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 2 Comments to Read

The Naugatuck River entering the Naugatuck State Forest

The Naugatuck river Watershed Association, Inc. (hereinafter the “NRWA”), is actively seeking river stewards and other volunteers interested in helping to clean and beautify the mighty Naugatuck River. While the Naugatuck has come a long way since the height of its polluted state in the 1970’s, debris and other large hazards still litter the river in certain locations.

Mr. Robert Gregorski, President of the NRWA, is initiating a pilot project named the River Steward Partnership (hereinafter the “RSP”), which would solicit a couple dedicated individuals to take ownership of certain sections of the Naugatuck. In addition, stewardship opportunities could be available for some of the tributaries of the river such as Beacon Valley Brook, Hop Brook, Longmeadow Brook and Fulling Mill Brook.

This is not the first time Mr. Gregorski has participated in a venture promoting the health of the Naugatuck River. Prior to starting the NRWA in 1995, Mr. Gregorski was a founding member of the Naugatuck-Pomperaug Chapter of Trout Unlimited and has helped organize approximately fifty (50) clean-ups over the years. Such efforts helped to change the condition and perception of the Naugatuck, which have yielded successful events in recent years such as the Naugatuck Kayak and Canoe Race, the Rubber Duck Race, and recreational fishing.

Another component of the RSP will be to promote education about the river to the community. Everyone from students to seniors may be surprised to know about the complex wildlife and ecosystem that are part of the Naugatuck.

While much progress has been made, more work is needed to beautify this precious natural resource that flows through our Valley. For too long we failed to realize not only the beauty of the Naugatuck, but the enormous potential the river possesses to educate, entertain and promote economic development.

Anyone interested in becoming a river steward or participating in a river-related clean-up should contact Bob Gregorski at bobflybox@sbcglobal.net.

Christy said,

I FIRMLY BELIEVE IN AND SUPPORT THE NAUGATUCK RIVER WATERSHED ASSOCIATION! I also think there is no better time than now to get active support and volunteers and river enhancement projects going working with youth and families on River restoration as well as interlinking this with the proposed greenway, outdoor recreation places and opportunities can only serve to enhance Naugatuck’s image, offer a positive area and family oriented place/places for people to fish, walk, bike ride and kayak and canoe….the economy is tough and very stressful these are exactly the types of places and activities we need to help bring back the value of our communities, our positive re-enforcement places NOW is the time!!! Suggest also interlinking with, networking and shariing ideas and events with SISTER organizations such as the Housatonic River Watershed Alliance and the Quinnipiac River Watershed Aliiance also sharing ideas, resources, lessons learned can only help to fortify the mission!
Christy said,

P.S> I am very glad and so are many of my friends and associates that the naugy is getting it’s rightfully deserved attention and care…this town’s as well as many others names and basis came from TREES by the River, Rivers are vital to our ecological balance and health and survival as a race! Water is a very critical resource one that we as a species have been abusing and taking advantage of for a long long time….every try to live without water for lets say ..a week or more???
Brooks, streams, watersheds, wetlands, marshes ALL FORM a very critical part of the vast environmental balance…
mankind is NOT and invincible species, we depend on the H20 and Oxygen on this planet without meadows, marshes and wetlands we won’t have enough to exist!
Many Thanks for that dedicated Bob Gregorski and his suporters, also many memories to a recently deceased wetlands and waterways support Mr. John Deceasare from Waterbury who also knew and taught much about the wetlands and waterways! Please don’t forget Hop brook which filters down through Naugatuck and into the Naugatuck River….it once held native brook trout which were beautiful and a great sport to catch ( and release!), as well as Beacon Brook which also used to hold healthy brookies and other trout and flows into the Naugy/and housatonic and into our ocean as well as the LONG Meadow Brook also which feeds into the Naugatuck River very small but also very important